OCOTILLO, Calif. – U.S. Border Patrol agents from El Centro Sector rescued two illegal aliens abandoned and in distress in the Jacumba Wilderness region in last night.
The incident occurred on Thursday at approximately 7:40 p.m., when El Centro Sector Communications Dispatch was notified by California Highway Patrol Communications of a distress call made by a two individuals. The caller, a 34-year-old female, stated the she and her cousin, a 17-year-old male, were lost and had been abandoned by a larger group they were originally traveling with. She also stated that her cousin had sprained his ankle along the way. This information was relayed to the El Centro Station shift supervisor along with GPS coordinates based on the cell phone tower usage during the call. Agents performing their assigned duties in the area responded to the location to begin searching for the pair using the GPS coordinates.
At approximately 8:20 p.m., an Air and Marine Operations (AMO) helicopter assigned to the Yuma Air Branch operating in the area responded to the call and assisted with the search. At approximately 8:40 p.m., the air unit observed an individual shining a light at their aircraft and determined the light was from the lost individuals. They used it to guided agents on the ground to the location of the two individuals.
At approximately 8:45 p.m., agents made contact with the pair. They were evaluated and both appeared be in relatively good health with no major injuries. The both of them declined any further medical attention.
Both individuals were determined to be illegal aliens from Mexico. They were taken to the rally point for processing and both were expelled back to Mexico.